6-time MLA Pramila Mallik to be first woman speaker of Odisha assembly

Odisha's Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has named Pramila Mallik as its candidate for the position of assembly speaker, making her the state's first female speaker. Mallik, a six-time MLA, has held various important roles in the government. She expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for selecting her and promised to ensure impartial functioning of the assembly.

Updated on: Sep 20, 2023, 21:50:27 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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BHUBANESWAR: Odisha is set to get its first woman assembly speaker on Friday with the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) naming state revenue minister Pramila Mallik as its candidate for the speaker’s election to be held on Friday.

Pramila Mallik thanked chief minister Naveen Patnaik for entrusting her with the key responsibility. (PTI Video screengrab)

The post was vacant after the resignation of Bikram Keshari Arukh in May this year following his induction to the state cabinet. The BJD has a clear majority in the House with its 112 legislators.

Mallik, a six-time MLA, has held several key assignments in the Naveen Patnaik government.

“By making me the speaker candidate, the chief minister has proved that women are capable of doing everything. I am grateful to CM Naveen Patnaik for reposing faith in me and selecting me for the top post. I will ensure that the assembly functions in an impartial manner,” said Malik.

“It is a top position and I will try to discharge my duties by taking everybody together. The vision of the CM is to give prominence to women and he demanded 33% reservation for women. After 5 years, the Centre tabled the Women’s Reservation Bill,” she said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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